Rapid Ride has changed the face of public transportation in Albuquerque. ABQ RIDE's fleet of 24 60-foot articulated buses are used on three Rapid Ride routes - the Red Line and Green Line (Central Avenue) and the Blue Line (West Side to UNM).

Rapid Ride Red Line and Green Line routes operate seven days per week, and the Blue Line route operates six days a week (Mon.-Sat.).

Learn more about Rapid Ride:

The Red Line - The First Central Ave. Rapid Ride Route

Rapid Ride service began in December 2004. By November 17, 2005 the one-millionth passenger boarded the Rapid Ride and by March 21, 2008 5 million people had taken the Rapid Ride. Today, the Red Line logs more than 155,000 passenger boardings each month, with ridership expected to exceed 1.87 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. This will be up almost 13% from the previous fiscal year. Learn more.

The Blue Line - West Side to UNM Service

In July 2007, the City of Albuquerque and ABQ RIDE announced Rapid Ride service between Albuquerque's West Side and the University of New Mexico. Learn more.

The Green Line - Downtown to Tramway Along Central Avenue

On August 15, 2009 the City of Albuquerque and ABQ RIDE announced a new Rapid Ride service called the Green Line. The new Green Line serves Central from Tramway to Downtown and has stops located at Central and Juan Tabo, Central and Eubank, as well as Central and Wyoming. The Green Line is also utilizing existing Red Line stops into the Downtown area. With the addition of the Green Line, citizens now have available Rapid Ride service from the east to the west side of Albuquerque. Learn more.

The Buses

Rapid Ride features 60-foot long, articulated buses that accommodate up to 86 passengers. The New Flyer buses are powered by cutting edge technology - a diesel electric hybrid engine that has an extremely low level of emissions while providing power and improved gas mileage. Rapid Ride buses are low-floor, allowing for speedy passenger and wheelchair access.

Rapid Ride buses feature a wheelchair ramp instead of a lift, which deploys extremely quickly. This system, when combined with fewer stops and quicker loading, translates to faster, more efficient, comfortable service.

The buses are loaded with new technology, including:

An automatic announcement system to notify passengers when the next station is approaching

A global positioning system to aid in the transit applications that help passengers locate their bus in real time

The latest in security cameras and microphones for the safety of passengers and drivers

On the outside, all Rapid Ride buses have a paint scheme that is hard to miss!

For our bike-riding friends, the Rapid Ride buses feature a rack that holds 3 bikes, an improvement from the typical 2 bikes that most of our racks now hold.

The Stations

As part of the Rapid Ride system, all stops or "stations" include a Rapid Ride monument. Most station locations also feature a structure which allows passengers to wait in safety and comfort. The Pueblo-Deco inspired stations are spaced 1/2 mile to 1 mile apart at major intersections and activity centers. They have wind screens and neon accents in keeping with the historic Route 66 theme.

High Speed Wireless Internet Access

The Rapid Ride experience has something to offer business people and college students alike. Rapid Ride passengers get free wireless Internet access. There are "hot spots" on each bus providing Internet access to all passengers.

This new technology will allow passengers with laptop computers to surf the Internet, check email, send reports to work, or chat with friends. Now, many people will find their commute time to be productive time. Learn more.